Electric overhead door operating device



March 1952 J. N. M NINCH ELECTRIC OVERHEAD DOOR OPERATING DEVICE 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug. 2, 1950 March 4, 1952 J. N. M NINCH 2,588,028

' ELECTRIC OVERHEAD DOOR OPERATING DEVICE Filed Aug. 2, 1950 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 6 7 45 f A 67/1 4 m %i% 9- M fiiiiiiziiimi FAQ-7 IN V EN TOR.

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March 4, 1952 J. N. M NINCH 2,588,028

ELECTRIC OVERHEAD DOOR OPERATING DEVICE Filed Aug. 2, 1950 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 mm hzah m 's AW,

Patented Mar. 4, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE James N. McNinch, Sterling, 111., assignor to Sterling Electronic Door Control Corporation, Sterling, 111., a corpora on of Illin is Application August 2, 1950, Serial No. 177,279

Claims, (01. 268-59! My invention has reference to an electrical overhead door opening and closing device for garages and similar structures, and relates more specially to improvements in an invention of that nature for which an application for letters patent of the United States was filed by myself and Lawrence E. Myers under date of November 1948, Serial No. 60,102, which issued as Patent No. 2,560,236 dated July 10, 1951. In these machines the movement of the door in either direction is limited by automatic stop devices. A part of the mechanism in the present case is similar to that set forth in a said former application, including a sprocket-chain and sprocket-wheel operated by an electric motor, and capable of converting a door from a vertical position, acting as a closure for a door opening, to a horizontal position in the upper part of the garage, or the reverse. Many of the parts used are of standard make, the chief novelty lying in the combination and mode of operation thereof.

One of the novel purposes of the present invention is to provide means for connecting the door handling parts in such a manner that they can be readily disconnected when desired, so that the door can be manually operated, and also permitting an automatic re-connection thereafter. This is accomplished by having a separate part, or driving cradle connected with a drivechain, and connectable with the door carrying devices on occasion.

Another feature of the present invention con! sists in the motor support having a limited move ment slidably on a fixed base, allowing a limited additional movement of the motor outfit and switches carried therewith, permitting a little free movement thereof after the door has encountered a stop.

The invention is shown herein as applied to a single one-piece door, and also as applied to a door of sectional parts, with a little different adaptation of the controlling devices.

The electric motor can be connected with switches at the front of a building, or can be under the control of an independent actuating device, such as an electric eye or other part, with actuating means on the dash-board of a vehicle.

The above named, and other features and advantages of the invention will more fully appear from the following specification, taken in con-.- nection with the accompanying drawing, in which;

Fig. 1 shows a fragmentary part of the invention, partly in section, as applied to a one-piece door;

Fig. 2 is a transverse view of the above men! tioned fragmentary part with the motor omitted:

Fig. 3 is a detail view of a driving cradle, in elevation and in transverse view;

Fig. 4 shows a track shifting mechanism in side view and a front extension thereof;

Fig. 5 indicates an electric motor and mounting therefor, in side elevation, with switch actuating mechanism and motor control box mounted thereto;

Fig. 6 is a transverse view of the above men.- tioned mechanism;

Fig. 7 shows a chain pick-up casing. in lon is tudinal section;

Fig. 8 is a View similar to Fig. 1, showing an ar rangement for another form of door;

Fig. 9 is a detail of a different form of driving cradle, in side view and edge view;

Fig. 10 is a diagram of an electric control sys-- tem for use with the invention;

Fig. 11 is a detached view of a motor mounting and another form of reversing mechanism;

Fig. 12 is a transverse view of motor mountin and switch actuating mechanism.

The reference number I0 indicates a portion of the front wall of a building used forthe storage of motor vehicles, at one side of which is an opening H, with a fragmentary part of an overhead construction at l2. l3 shows a part of a door for closing the opening, which is designed to be moved out. of the way upwardly to admit a vehicle, or permit the removal thereof, in a present welleknown manner.

The upper end of the door is supported by a pair of hangers IE, only one of which is shown, mounted on pairs of rollers [6 for operation on a track [1, rigidly supported in the upper part of the structure, with the forward end attached to the front wall It! and its opposite end supported from the rear wall of the building, not shown in the drawing. Suspended from each of the hangers is a tongue l8, which has a connection at its lower end with a bracket 15, by means of a pivot pin 20. The bracket is provided with an angle-plate 26, having openings 20a for use with screws or bolts in attaching the bracket to the door 13.

A little distance below the track I! is a track 23 in which is a slidable gear-chain 24, of a fragmentary character, said track being supported at its inner end in a bracket fixed to rigid part 45 of the motor casing, shown at 25. The forward or outer end of said track is rigidly connected with angle 26 (Fig. 4). Angle plate 26 is secured to 66 back plate 26a by a pair of shoulder bolts 21 (Fig. 4) passing through slots 28 in angle plate 26. The frame 28a is secured to door frame by a pair of screws through holes 261) (Fig. l), the angle 26 is capable of a limited vertical movement along the front wall carrying with it the front end of the track 23 and driving cradle 34 when door is in the closed position. This movement is imparted manually by means of handle 3| (Fig. 1). This movement disengages driving cradle 34 from pivot pin 20 (Fig. 1) allowing door to be manually operated.

Fig. 3 shows a relatively thin plate 34, hereinbefore referred to as a driving cradle, provided near its lower edge with a series of perforations 36, for engagement with two or more of adjacent roller pins in the chain 24, a portion of the rollers being cut away to allow for such connections. The upper edge of the plate 34 is in form of a cam 31, at the upper end of which is a recess 38, extending downwardly into the plate, and forming a seat for the pivot pin 20. When the driving cradle is connected with the door bracket the door is caused to respond to the movement of the gear-chain in one direction or the other.

If the power fails the handle 3| (Fig. 1) is pulled downwardly disengaging the driving cradle 34 from pivot pin 20 allowing manual operation of door. When the door operating tracks and chain have been disconnected they can be again attached by pulling downwardly on the door, moving the door trolley forward until the pivot pin 20 comes in contact with the cam face 31, causing a coiled spring 30 supported beneath the track 23 to compress, allowing the pivot pin to slide upwardly along the cam face, until it is snapped into the recess 38, with the parts coacting again.

The track 23 is of a construction similar to that shown in said former application, with the bottom plate 23 bent upwardly to form parallel side pieces 40, bent inwardly to form guide rails 4| against which the upper part of the chain travels, with the chain restricted so that it will not bend or buckle upon being moved in either direction.

In Fig. 2 of the drawing the numeral 43 indicates a side wall of a structure, in which is fixed a pair of brackets 44, upon which is mounted a casing 45. Supported on said casing so as to have a limited amount of longitudinal play thereon is a casing 46, by which is carried an electric motor 41, provided with a driveshaft 48. At right angles with the shaft 48 is a shaft 55 driven from the shaft 48 through a reduced speed apparatus shown at 56. On the outer end of the shaft 55 is fixed a sprocket-wheel 48a, in engagement with the rollers in the sprocket-chain 24a, capable of moving the chain in one direction or the other upon the operation of the motor 41.

Secured at the rear end of track 23 is a narrow box (Fig. '1) 59, into which chain 24 is deposited as the door goes up. The lower corners of said box being curved as at 60 which causes link of the chain to describe a circle upwardly and form a coil in box. Upon movement of the chain in the opposite direction these coils unwind, and the chain resumes a straight line again.

Supported from the casing is a frame 25, in which is mounted the track 23, through the under side of which an adjustment screw 62 is mounted, the upper end of which bears against the track 23 thereby keeping chain 24 against sprocket wheel 48a.

A guiding means is provided for the slidable motor mounting consisting of two pairs of slots 4 49 in the sides of the casing 46 in which operate rollers 58 supported from the casing 45. (See Fig. 1). Said rollers are fixed to flanges after the motor mounting has been put in place, thereby a1- lowing a free guided reciprocating movement thereof.

Another feature of the combined motor mount and mounting bracket is a pair of expansion springs 61 and 68 shown in the drawing (Fig. 6).

It will be readily seen that one end of each of said springs is attached to the slidable part 46 of motor mount while the other ends of said springs are fixed to the rigid part 46a of said mounting, with an adjustment screw 61a allowing adjustment of tension on said springs great enough to withstand lifting and closing weight of door 13.

Yet another purpose of said springs is their use in relation with the switch actuating mechanism and movement of slidable motor mount and herein explained:

Carried by the movable motor mounting 46 is a switch actuator rod 4 (Fig. 6) carrying coil springs 69 and 10 for contact with fixed part 46a of easing. When the door reaches a stop at either end of its movement it is held from further play and the sprocket wheel 48a travels along the chain 24 one way or the other, causing either hereinbefore mentioned springs 61 or 68 to expand allowing a delayed movement of slidable motor base 46 after the door l3 hasreachedastop, thereby allowing aforementioned springs 69 o 16 to build up enough tension to either push or pull actuator rod, which is fixed to actuator tube 12 (Fig. 6), against switch lever 1| (Fig. 5) and actuate same causing motor to stop.

Another novel feature is the safety measure provided and herein explained. The door encounters a stop 65 causing the sprocket 48a. to walk on the chain 24 resulting in a movement of the casing 46, which casing will move either to the right or left, causing the aforementioned actuator to operate the reversing switch, stopping the motor. Therefore if the door l3 encounters an obstruction at any point in its up or down movement, the obstruction will act the same as the stop at either end of its movement, thereby causing the door to stop. Then upon a wall switch being actuated, the ratchet relaynot shown in drawing but mounted in motor control box 13--is actuated causing a cam on the end of the ratchet shaft to push up the contact and start the motor.

Fig. 10 of the drawing shows a lay-out of an electrical system which can be employed for energizing and controlling the electric motor hereinbefore referred to. This includes a pair of wires 14, coming from a source of power of ordinary commercial intensity, as at A, and continuing through wires 16 to a convertor at B, from which other wires 18 pass to the motor at 41 through relay D and reversing switch C. Additional wires 19 connect the motor with reversing switch at C, and a light is shown at E, connected by wires through switch C. This is not considered to be a novel arrangement for the purpose mentioned and nothing is claimed broadly thereon.

In Fig. 8 of the drawing is shown a sectional arrangement in which a door is formed of two or more sections 81, contained in the front opening of a building as in the former case, but not shown in said figure. The sections 81 are united by pairs of hinges as at 88, of a character to permit a spreading of the joints in describing asaaoea" 5 a curve, or departure from movement along a straight line. fixed to the upper section is a pair of brackets 89, having pivot pins 90 for connecting the brackets pivotally, provided with rollers 92 for operation on a track 93 supported in the upper part of the structure, conveniently to the'door sections. A large part of said track is in a horizontal position, but it has a vertical front end portion 94 with a curve at 95 uniting same with the horizontal part. As the doors are moved upwardly the rollers follow the track, carrying the door sections upwardly and rearwardly, until fully opened, and for closing 'the door again the operation is reversed.

Below the track 93 is a track I00, similar to the track 23, and supported at the rear end in a like manner, in which track is operable a gearchain IOI similar to the chain before described. The forward end of the track I has a vertical portion I02, with a curved portion I03 uniting the horizontal and vertical portions. The lower end of the track I02 is attached to the angleplate I04 of a frame I05, with which angleplate is connected a handle I 06 by means of the angle-plate can be given a limited movement inwardly and return.

Connected with the gear-chain IN is a driving cradle or plate I08, by means of a lug I09 on one edge of said plate, provided with a pair of perforations IIO for connection with two of the pins in adjacent rollers of the chain. This enables the chain and plate to follow the curve in the track I00 when the chain passes upwardly or downwardly. The opposite edge III of the plate I08 is cam-shaped as at Illa and formed therein is a recess II2, for engagement with the pivot-pin 90. The chain IOI is driven by a motor and sprocket-wheel apparatus similar to that hereinbefore shown and described, but not shown in Fig. 8. When it is desired to disconnect the door parts from the gear-chain the handle I06 is drawn inwardly, releasing the plate I08, and permitting independent movement of the chain. When it is desired to again connect said parts the door is pulled downwardly, as in closing, and a coiled spring I01 interposed in the frame I is compressed, permitting a reengaging of the cradle and door trolley, and enabling the door and chain to work in unison.

The operation of the machine just described is similar to that of the track and gear devices hereinbefore set forth, except that the track is curved downwardly at its forward end, and that the chain follows the form of the track in its movements.

In Figs. 11 and 12 of drawing is shown a modified arrangement of the switch control apparatus for stopping and reversing the door. The control apparatus is shown mounted to a motor mounting similar to the before mentioned motor mounting Figs. 5 and 6 with a little different mechanism for actuating reversing switch and herein explained.

Shown at H4 and I I6 is a pair of expansion springs it will be seen that one end of said springs is attached to the slidable part 46 of motor mount while the other ends of said springs are fixed to the rigid part 46a of said mounting, with an adjustment screw allowing adjustment of tension on said springs great enough to withstand the lifting and closing weight of the door I3.

Yet another purpose of said springs is their use in relation with the switch actuating mechanism and movement of slidable motor mount and herein explained. Secured to the slidable motor mounting 06 is a pair of brackets H3 Fig. 11 in which is mounted slidable actuator rods H5 carrying springs I20 and I2I, hereinafter referred to as actuator springs, between -'its. movement it is held from further play and the sprocket wheel III Fig. 11 travels along chain 24 Fig. 1, one way or the other causing hereinbefore mentioned springs H4 or II 6 to expand allowing a delayed movement of slidable motor "base 46 after the door has reached a stop thereby bringing one or the other actuatorrods 'II5 against toggle I-I9 of -reversing switch thereby building up enough tension on actuator springs I20 or I2I to actuate switch.

The motor control box I22 is mounted to an angle plate 45 which is part of rigid motor mount :56 thereby holding it in a fixed position and allowing actuator rods II5 to move against the reversing switch toggle, secured through the top of the control box I22, to be actuated reversing and stopping the motor. The motoris started again in the opposite direction by a switch mounted on the wall or by an electronic control switch mounted on the dash board of a car.

From the foregoing, the manner of constructing and operating the device will be readily understood and further explanation is believed to be unnecessary. However, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art after a consideration of the foregoing specification and the accompanying drawings, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction shown and described, but all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to falling within the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim, and desire to secure, is-

1. In combination with a structure having a door opening and door therefore with overhead movement, tracks for the support of a door during such movement, an operating track below and parallel with one of said first-named tracks, having a horizontal portion and a downwardly bent portion at the forward end, means for the support of the forward end of the operating track permitting a limited inward movement thereof, and means for actuating the same, an articulated, segmental member movable slidably in said last-named track, means for connecting said segmental member with the door supporting means, to cause a back and forth movement thereof, and an electric motor operatively connected with said segmental member.

2. A device as described in claim 1, in which the door contacts a reversing switch at either end of its movement, to cause a stoppage of the electric motor, and reversal of the movement thereof.

3. A device as described in claim 1, in which the electric motor is mounted for a delayed movement upon stoppage of the door in either direction, with spring loaded actuators for interrupting the movement of such motor.

4. A device as set forth in claim 1, in which the electric motor is mounted on a movable support, slidable on a fixed support, permitting a delayed movement of the motor in either direction, following a stoppage of the door, a pair of actuator rods carried by said movable casing, a motor control box on the fixed support, and springloaded actuators on said rods adapted for alternative contact with a switch in the motor control box, connected with control thereof.

5. A device as set forth'in claim 1, in which the electric motor is mounted on a movable support, slidable on a fixed-support, permitting a delayed movement of the'motor in either direction, following a stoppage of the door.. ..;A motor control box mounted to the movable cas the motor for the ing with a spring loaded actuatormounted" thereto for contact with the fixed part of motor REFERENCES CITED I The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,978,126 Blodgett Oct. 23, 1934 2,070,058 McCloud Feb. 9, 1937 2,084,733 Kahliff June 22, 1937 2,401,082 Konter May 28, 1946 2,544,239 Schirmer Mar. 6, 1951 2,545,775 Hall Mar. 20, 1951 

